🔅 Nigerian Election: Will the young Obi-dients take it?
Plus: Ghana/Nigerian artist to take over UK's Tate Modern Gallery, Jill Biden is in Africa to counter China-Russia influence, Madagascar reels from Cyclone Freddy, And more... ☕
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POLITICS
Nigerian Election: Will the young Obi-dients take it?
Nigeria is having one of its most polarized elections ever amidst its economic crisis, rampant corruption and extremist violence. In today's analysis, we look at how the under-35s might finally be getting their say.
On Feb. 25, young people, who make up a considerable chunk of the population, will choose between 18 candidates to succeed the current president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Who are these young people backing?
Third-party candidate Peter Obi, 61, who's positioning himself as a change candidate. Nigeria’s two largest parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—have been in power for two decades. Obi is promising jobs and changes to give diasporans a reason to return.
He’s been gaining traction, coming ahead of or close behind the two main party candidates, Bola Tinubu, 70, of the APC, and Atiku Abubakar, 76, of the PDP.
What's Tinubu's strategy?
Tinubu is focusing on Nigeria’s Muslim majority, and has chosen a Muslim running mate. It’s a strategy to win votes in the Muslim-dominated north, which has more registered voters than the south.
But it could also deepen the country’s religious divisions.
What's the barrier to young voters?
The most significant barrier will be to get these young people to turn up and vote; turnout in Nigeria’s recent elections has tended to be low.
But Peter Obi might just be the man who can bring out the youth.
He’s been doing well in opinion polls and the surge in interest could be attributed to the mass protests against police brutality in 2020. The protests forced the government to shut down one of the police force's most notorious units, giving young Nigerians a sense of control over their votes.
Plus, the electoral commission has added over 9.5 million new names to the voter register — three-quarters of them under 35.
What does Obi’s platform look like?
Obi has been tapping into the frustrations of young Nigerians, connecting with them via social media, and speaking to them directly.
He’s promised jobs, skills training and funding -- as have the other two candidates -- but his anti-establishment movement seems to be striking more of a chord with his young "Obi-dients', as his supporters call themselves. To them, he seems more honest than his rivals.
And if he loses?
Obi's supporters are aware of the stakes, knowing they might have to wait another eight years before they get to have another say. Consequently, analysts fear a resulting wave of skilled Nigerians leaving the country in its perpetual brain drain.
So will the Obi-dients win it? It's a crucial election, and young people seem like they'll be leading the charge.
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OTHER HEADLINES
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Proverb of the Day
“Children are the reward of life.”
— Congolese Proverb.